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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Scripture for the Passover Season

by Lee Ann Setzer

Exodus 12 tells the Israelites how to observe the Passover—how to prepare the meal, what to teach the family, what to serve for dinner, how to eat it. Then come two important verses:

26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.

Even if you don’t know much about the Passover, you know about bitter herbs, and perfect lambs, and unleavened bread. This incredibly complex ritual, complete with family participation and unusual sights, smells, and tastes, exists, at least partially, to make children ask questions. And the reason for them to ask, is so that their parents can teach them the gospel.

Our leaders frequently advise us not to confuse entertaining with teaching. But, in this case, the opposite of entertain isn’t bore—we have a responsibility to engage our children, our classes, our learners. When they are asking us questions, that’s an excellent place for learning to begin.

The Passover has endured for more than 3000 years. How can we engage our children in ways that will plant the gospel that firmly in their hearts?